Prenatal stress leads to different depression-like behaviors in male and female rats, with females showing higher vulnerability

Repeated variable prenatal stress is associated with changes in behavior and circadian activity in rat offspring.

• Pregnant rats exposed to stressors led to physiological changes in their offspring, such as increased plasma corticosterone levels.
• Male offspring showed altered locomotor and climbing activity compared to controls, suggesting behavioral impacts from prenatal stress.
• Female offspring exhibited increased immobility in the forced swim test, indicating heightened depression-like behavior.
• Anxiety responses in control offspring were affected by acute stress, but this response was diminished in those exposed to prenatal stress.
• Findings highlight sex differences, with female rats showing greater vulnerability to depression-like behaviors following prenatal stress.

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